Community Development Officer

To have strategic responsibility for developing and leading on community engagement and social Inclusion initiatives to allow the building of strong and sustainable neighbourhoods.

Develop programmes and projects to develop community cohesion on Housing Estates in conjunction with Community Engagement Programme.

Ensure there are various methods of community engagement available in particular to ensure engagement from under represented groups such as youth, BME communities and disabled.

Ensure compliance with all aspects of the national agenda for resident and community engagement.

Identify and bid for external funding for initiatives on Estates that support community cohesion and engagement.

Budget management responsibility for Community Development Service.

Lead officer for diversity and equality within Housing inc ensuring compliance with the CRE code in Housing and Diversity Impact Assessments.

Person Specification

You must have / be:

Demonstrable knowledge of and experience of working with Government policies and legislation pertaining to resident involvement and community development

Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the delivery of housing management services

Possess a professional housing or community development qualification (minimum HND level, or GNVQ level 4 equivalent)

Able to demonstrable the ability to understand and contribute to strategy and policy formulation specifically in terms of Housing Management and Community Development.

Good financial management skills and experience of managing and controlling budgets

The ability to commission and manage consultants

The ability to design and deliver training specifically for tenant and leaseholders to acquire life learning skills.

Demonstrable work experience in a resident involvement or community development related role

Experience of working on community based projects

Experience of accessing external funding for housing and community development projects in conjunction with residents.

A willingness to work towards obtaining a professional housing or community development qualification (minimum HND level, or GNVQ level 4 equivalent)

The ability to understand the vision and interpret it to develop practical and achievable work plans.

Able to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the service and the wider organizational context and how this interfaces with Members and possess the skills required to take a lead role in ensuring partnerships work.

Able to build and develop productive teams, setting clear objectives and identifying better ways of working, managing change effectively.

A commitment to equality and diversity, identifying service strategies to deliver equitable and fair services for users and employees, challenging discriminatory practices and actively managing and promoting diversity.

Excellent communication, negotiation, consultation and influencing skills tailored to meet the needs of a wide range of audiences and stakeholders.

The ability to build sound and productive working relationships with colleagues, partners and staff groups and can engage others in a credible, persuasive way.

Able to manage complex projects, assessing and taking account of known risks, able to adapt to changes and problems along the way.

Able to develop objective resource plans to meet the needs of the service, setting realistic budgets and developing ways of using information.

How to apply

There is NO application form, we will shortlist for interview / assessment based on the information you provide in your letter of application or a CV, so it must include all the items below, FAILURE TO INCLUDE ANY OF THE REQUESTED INFORMATION IS LIKELY TO RESULT IN YOU NOT BEING SHORTLISTED:

The post you are applying for and where you saw it advertised

Why you are the right person for this job – remember to demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the “person specification” section above. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work or personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. If you are submitting a C.V. please ensure it is tailored to meet this requirement and fully answer all the questions.

Your full work history, explaining any gaps. Including employers name, address, dates from and to and reasons for leaving. If you have never been employed before then please state that clearly.

We require details of a referee in your letter of application / CV. If you are currently working we will need a reference from your current employer. If you are not currently working, we will need a reference from your most recent employer/school or college.

Contact details – including full address, telephone and email contact details

Membership of any professional bodies, including name of body, level obtained and date of entry.

Please also complete the attached equal opportunity monitoring form and ensure that you include the following statement (either by cutting and pasting or copying.)

Disclosure of relationships please delete as applicable:

i) I certify to the best of my knowledge and belief, I am not related to, or in a relationship with, any Councillor, or employee of Medway Council

ii) I declare that I am related to, or in a relationship with, the following Councillor or employee of Medway Council.

Name……………………… Position………………………. Relationship ……………
Name……………………… Position………………………. Relationship……….……

Signed…………………………………………… Date……………………………….

Closing Date: 23 June 2010

e-mail to
Post to Resourcing Team, HR Services, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TR

Or, if you have any queries, please contact us on 01634 332878 or if you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting manager call Marc Blowers on 01634 334382.

Please note that providing false information is an offence and could result in the application being rejected or summary dismissal if you are appointed.